Garment hanger construction for cuff-less trousers



W- B. ROOZ Aug. '12, 1969 3,460,726 GARMENT H ANGER CONSTRUCTION FOR CUFF-LESS TROUSERS I Filed Aug. 15, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM B. ROOZ w UM ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1969 w. 5. R002 3. 3 5

' GARMENT HANGER CONSTRUCTION FOR CUFF-LESS TROUSERS Filed Aug. 16, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM B. ROOZ 14% ggfiwg ATTORNEYS Aug. 12, 1969 W. B. ROQZ GARMENT HANGER CONSTRUCTION FOR CUFF-LESS TROUSERS Filed Aug. 16, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 v INVENTOR WILLIAM B. ROOZ ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,460,726 GARMENT HANGER CONSTRUCTION FOR CUFF-LESS TROUSERS William B. Rooz, 36 Portola Ave., Daly City, Caiif. 94015 Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 479,359

Int. Cl. A47j 51/094 U.S. Cl. 223-95 17 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A garment hanger construction of a type wherein the garment engaging feet depend downwardly and incorporate an unobstructed zone around each foot whereby the feet can enter the open end of a garment to be supported. The feet move downwardly and outwardly in an arc struck from a point above and outwardly of the feet so that the weight of the garment will hang from the feet in a manner causing the radius arms supporting the feet to be subjected to tensioning forces.

This invention relates to garment hangers and more particularly to that class of garment hanger for supporting articles of clothing, such as trousers from the bottom ends thereof. The hanger construction is particularly useful in supporting cuff-less trouser and skirts.

Heretofore there have been shown and described trouser hangers of a type wherein gripping feet engage the bottom ends of the trousers so that the weight of the trousers serves to draw the feet downwardly and outwardly to apply the weight of the trousers to effect more intense gripping engagement thereof. According to the present invention there is provided an improved construction particularly adaptable to be used with cuif-less trousers but not necessarily limited thereto.

It is a general object of the present invention to provide an improved garment hanger construction.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved trouser hanger construction in conjunction with a coat hanger whereby the weight of a coat hung upon the coat hanger serves to urge the gripping feet of the trouser hanger into more intense gripping engagement with the trousers.

It is another object of the invention to provide a garment hanger construction characterized by a trouser hanger wherein a coat hanger is associated therewith and adapted to be gripped and thereby utilized for releasing the engagement of the trousers.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide a trouser hanger construction of the type described above wherein trouser gripping feet at both sides of each trouser opening can be simultaneously drawn relatively together for release while holding the trouser hanger construction in only one hand.

These and other objects of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation view, with trousers partially broken away in several stages, showing a garment hanger according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURES 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 respectively are views of five additional embodiments according to the invention;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a sectional plan view of a detail of FIG- URE 1 taken along the line 9-9 thereof;

FIGURE 10 is a plan view of a stamping employed in the embodiment shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 11 shows the stamping of FIGURE 10 folded to form two adjacent gripping feet and a cross-tie cord readily adjustable therein for cooperation therewith;

FIGURE 12 is an enlarged detail view of a gripping assembly of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 13 is an enlarged perspective detail view showing a gripping assembly and garment hanger according to another embodiment of the invention; and

FIGURE 14 is an enlarged plan view of a stamping employed in the embodiment of FIGURE 13.

As will be noted above, there are a number of embodiments disclosed herein. However, in general, all of the embodiments include a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole and a member extends laterally of the stem. At least one pair of laterally spaced downwardly depending feet are provided in each embodiment. The feet are each adapted to enter the open end of a garment to be supported from a clothes pole. Means are provided for supporting at least one of the feet to move downwardly and outwardly in an arc struck from a point above and outwardly of the moving foot to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet to engage the inside of the garment opening. A non-slip portion of each foot is. exposed to be adapted to engage the inside margin of the garment opening whereby the weight of the trousers is transferred to urge the feet downwardly and therefore further outwardly to increase the gripping engagement. Finally, means for releasing the engagement with the bottom openings of the garment have been provided for drawing the feet relatively toward the hook of the hanger construction substantially reversely along the are described during the downward and outward engaging movement of the feet. Thus, the feet are moved conjointly toward the hook so as to disengage the feet from the garment opening.

With the foregoing general description in mind, a detailed description of the various embodiments can now be more readily understood with particularity as a trouser hanger for cuff-less trousers.

As shown in the embodiment in FIGURE 1, a garment hanger construction is provided including a transversely extending coat hanger bar 11 adapted to support a suit coat as normally supported by a conventional coat hanger hook formed to include a stem portion 12 terminating in the book 13. Hook 13 is adapted to be supported about a conventional horizontally disposed clothes pole. Beneath coat hanger bar 11 there is provided a trouser hanger construction including the two braces 14, 16 formed of stiff wire wrapped together at their lower ends to form a supporting yoke having a downwardly depending stem 17. A pair of radius arms 18, 19- are formed from the wire to diverge upwardly and outwardly from the lower end of stem 17 whereby the lower end of the stem forms a center of rotation 21 for each of arms 18, 19.

Arms 18, 19 as now to be described will be understood to move within relatively narrow limits about the center of rotation at 21. At the upper and outer end of each arm 18, 19 a gripping assembly 22, 23 respectively is carried to engage the margin inside of the bottom opening of each trouser leg. Gripping assembly 22 simultaneously engages the inner margin of both trouser legs at the left side of FIGURE 1 and assembly 23 engages the margin inside both legs of the trousers at the right hand side of FIGURE '1.

Accordingly, each gripping assembly 22, 23 includes two feet 24, 26 adjacent to one another to provide a pair of feet 24 lying in one plane and another pair of feet 26 lying in a closely spaced parallel plane. The adjacent feet in each assembly 22, 23 are formed from wires initially arranged as an elongated rectangle and then folded about a line 27 parallel to and in the plane of the shorter sides of the rectangle. An unobstructed trouser-receiving zone 28 is defined between the longer sides of the rectangle. The wire as shown in the embodiment of FIGURE 1 for forming feet 24, 26, though stiff, is yieldingly and permanently deformable to selectively establish the angle 29 of the fold so as to vary the spacing between the feet 24, 26 of each pair thereof.

Thus it will be seen that the pair of feet comprised of feet 24, lie in a predetermined plane spaced substantially parallel to the plane containing the pair of feet 26. The adjacent ones of the feet 24, 26 are connected by a spacing portion 31 extending therebetween. A cross-tie 32 extends laterally of stem 12 and is movable between advanced and retracted positions with respect to bar 11. Cross-tie 32 passes through a pair of guide loops 33, 34 formed in the wire braces 14, 16.

Thus, when a person grips the cross-tie 32 and bar 11 in one hand, both pairs of feet 24, 26 can be simultaneously retracted and thereby released from engaging the inside margin of trousers supported thereon.

It will be further noted in FIGURE 2 that each gripping assembly 22, 23 is supported through a bendable neck portion 36, 37 whereby each gripping assembly is free to twist slightly and accommodate slight variations between the size of one trouser opening and the other.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that in operation the bottom of stem 17 is guided between the adjacent trouser legs. One pair of feet 24 is disposed downwardly inside the trouser opening of one leg of a pair of trousers as, for example, as shown in FIGURE 1. The other pair of feet 26 are disposed downwardly interiorly of the bottom opening of the other trouser leg. During the downward entering movement of feet 24, 26 cross-tie 32 is drawn upwardly toward stem 12 so as to minimize the lateral spacing between the feet of each pair. After insertion into the trouser legs, cross-tie 32 is released and the resilience of the wire construction serves to permit each gripping assembly 22, 23 to move outwardly into engagement with the trousers.

The high friction trouser engagement surface formed on feet 24, 26 transmits the weight of the trousers to radius arms 18, 19 whereby they are rotated downwardly and outwardly about a center of rotation 21 so as to tend to increase the spacing between the feet of each pair thereof and hence to intensify the gripping engagement with the trousers.

Another embodiment according to the invention has been shown in FIGURE 4 for supporting trousers only, wherein the coat hanger bar 11 has been eliminated. The construction shown in FIGURE 4 includes a laterally extending member 38 including a loop 39 formed to permit member 38 to slide along stem 41. The ends of member 38 are bent to cross substantially at right angles and pass through a loop 42 formed in stem 41 whereby the ends of member 38 form connecting links 43, 44 adapted to meet radius arms 46, 47 at substantially right angles to gain maximum force transmission thereto when member 38 is drawn upwardly relatively along stem 41.

Radius arms 46, 47 move about a center of rotation 48 at the lower end of stem 41 as previously described with respect to the embodiment disclosed in FIGURES l and 2. The gripping feet and their action in the embodiment of FIGURE 4 is substantially as described in the embodiment in FIGURES 1 and 2 and, it is believed unnecessary for it to be repeated here with the exception of mentioning that the transversely extending member 38 is gripped with the fingers of the hand while the hook 49 is adapted to be held by the same hand so that member 38 can be drawn relatively toward hook 49.

It should be further noted that with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGURE 4 hook 49 is formed with a pair of parallel wires lying in the plane of the hook whereby the inner and outer wire portions serve to reinforce each other and add additional strength and resistance to any tendency for the hook to straighten out when garments are hung from the hanger.

Another embodiment is shown in FIGURE 3. A coat hanger bar 51, formed with an opening 52 adapted to slidably pass the stem 53, serves to transmit the weight of a coat to intensify gripping by the trouser engaging feet. Thus, connecting links 54, 56 are fixed at their upper ends to bar 51 so that when hook 57 is disposed about a clothes pole it will be observed that placing of a coat upon coat hanger bar 51 drives bar 51 downwardly under the weight of the coat and hence positively expands the spacing between the feet of each pair 58, 59. It will he, therefore, apparent that the weight of the coat is applied to cooperate with the trouser hanger construction and improve the engagement and support of the trousers hung therebelow. It will also be observed that hanger 51 provides a laterally extending member adapted to be gripped in the same hand as used to grip the hook 57 so that upon squeezing bar 51 and hook 57 together, feet 58, 59 will be drawn together to release the trousers.

The embodiments shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 each utilize gripping feet adapted to move downwardly and outwardly in an arc having a center of rotation located upwardly and outwardly of the feet, as distinguished from those embodiments described heretofore wherein the center of rotation of the arc is located between the feet.

Thus, as shown in FIGURES 5 and 12, a coat hanger construction is arranged to include a stem 61, coat hanger bar 62, and trouser supporting apparatus therebelow as now to be described. The two adjacent vertically disposed feet 69, 71 of each of two gripping assemblies 73, 74 are each carried on the ends of associated pairs of radius arms 63, 64, respectively, for arcuate resilient movement downwardly and outwardly therewith. Thus, a pair of radius arms 63, 64 are formed by pairs of laterally spaced wires secured at their outer ends to hanger bar 62 whereby the L-shaped radius arms 63, 64 are adapted to rotate downwardly and outwardly about their respective centers of rotation (see 105, FIG. 8) defined at their fixed ends. Each of arms 63, 64 includes a spring loop 66 serving to provide resilience to the rotational movement of the arms. The wires which form the L-shaped radius arms 63, 64 are bent to extend first downwardly and inwardly, then downwardly and outwardly, and then folded vertically upwardly to form feet 69, 71. The wire ends are then brought together and secured by a loop 68 (FIGURE 12) formed on the end of a cross-tie 72. Each end of cross-tie 72 connects the two wire ends 60, 65 so that as cross-tie '72 and the laterally extending hanger bar 62 are gripped and drawn together in one hand of the user, the feet of each gripping assembly 73, 74 will be drawn together in substantial parallelism as the feet move in an arc extending upwardly and inwardly. Ends 60, 65, while held by a loop 68, are free to pivot with respect to each other so as to provide independent adjustment of the spacing between the feet of each of pairs 6?, 71, thereby accommodating slight differences in the size of the trouser openings. Slack in cross-tie 72 can be removed by employing one of the loops 68 thereof intermediate its ends. Thus, cross-tie 72 is preferably formed with several loops 68 so as to variously space the pairs of feet or to remove slack in tie 72.

It will be readily apparent that the user of the hanger construction can simultaneously draw the gripping assemblies together with one hand while holding his trousers in the other hand to facilitate entry of one gripping assembly into the bottom openings of his trousers at one side thereof and then slip the other side of his trousers over the other gripping assembly. Then, by release of the cross-tie, the resilience of spring loops 66 urges the gripping assemblies outwardly from each other to engage the trousers. As in the previously described embodiments, the feet are coated with a high friction material 70 to further enhance gripping and to transmit a downward pull to the feet.

The embodiments shown in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 are each arranged whereby only the gripping assemblies enter into the trousers. Accordingly, there need not be any concern for contact between the device and the outside of a garment.

Referring to FIGURE 6, still another embodiment of the apparatus is shown wherein the cross-tie 76 is formed as a light cord carried in guide eyes 77 and thence directed downwardly at an angle to gripping assemblies 78 formed as now to be described.

As shown in FIGURE 10, a stamping 79 of thin sheet material is formed having a pair of outwardly extending feet portions 81 adapted to be bent downwardly about lines 82 to be disposed in substantially parallel spaced relation. The feet portions 81 are preferably coated with a high friction material. A spinning region 83 is adapted to form the spacing between feet 81 in their folded position. A web 84 of substantially triangular configuration is formed to include an inverted keyhole opening 86 to receive one end of the cross-tie 76.

Cross-tie 76 is formed with a series of spaced knots 87 forming spaced detents whereby the end of cross-tie 76 can be variously inserted into keyhole opening 86 so as to adjust the length thereof.

Adjacent the sides of web 84 a pair of wings 88 are adapted to be folded along lines 89 whereby the upper edges of wings 88 will be engaged by the spanning region 83 for support. The lower tip 91 of the stamping is folded together to provide a pivot point adapted to engage the inner end of a radius arm 92 or 93 each of which includes a spring loop 94, 96.

Each of stamping 79 when folded as above described provide gripping assemblies to be pivoted upon the ends of radius arms 92, 93. The cross-tie 76 as passed through eyes 77 forms a connecting link meeting radius arms 92, 93 at substantially right angles. Cross-tie 76 thereby acts against the spring biasing of radius arms '92, 93 as provided by the spring loops 94, 96 to maintain cross-tie 76 taut at all times. For various trouser openings, it may be necessary to shorten or lengthen cross-tie 76 and this can be readily adjusted merely by selecting one of the detents formed by knots 87.

Yet another embodiment of the hanger construction is shown in FIGURE 7 and it will be noted that that embodiment does not include the cross-tie member for reasons which will be explained further below. With reference to FIGURES 7 and 8 there is provided a hanger construction employing a coat hanger bar 97 extending laterally from stem 98. A pair of gripping assemblies 101, 102 are carried beneath hanger bar 97. Each gripping assembly 101, 102 comprises a resilient wire forming a radius arm 103 adapted to rotate about a center of rotation 105 defined by the fixed end 104 thereof secured into bar 97. Each radius arm 103 includes a coiled spring loop 106 intermediate the ends thereof and an upwardly, substantially vertical, support neck 107 for supporting a spacer portion 108 which carries a pair of downwardly depending feet 109, 111 formed to extend therefrom.

Thus, feet 109, 111 are free to twist about the axis of resilient neck 107 slightly in order to accommodate slight to modest differences in the size of the trouser openings.

At the lower end of each radius arm 103, means have been provided for applying a rotating force thereto directed upwardly and inwardly along a direction substantially normal to the radius arm. Thus, a radius arm extension 112 having an upwardly curved end 113 adapted to be engaged by the thumb or a finger of the hand of a person handling the device, has been provided and is coupled to rotate the radius arm upwardly and inwardly via a resilient coil spring loop 114 forming the connection between radius arm extension 112 and the lower end of radius arm 103.

In handling the device shown in FIGURE 7, the user will grip one leg of hanger bar 97 and in the same hand will engage the upwardly curved end 113 of extension 112. In this manner inward movement can be applied to gripping assembly 101 (or 102 as desired). The feet 109, 111 of that gripping assembly which is not so moved are then inserted into the open ends of both trouser legs. Then, using the hand which is not gripping the device, the user'can slip the bottom openings of the trousers over the feet 109, 111 thereof. Subsequently, the gripping assembly which is being held is released and, as in the case of the foregoing emodiments, the high friction material formed on the feet 109, 111 serves to provide an engagement between the inner margin around the openings of the trousers so as to draw the feet downwardly and hence outwardly into more intense engagement with the trousers. The high friction surface of all embodiments above can be provided by coating the feet with an elastomer, plastic or the like, having a high friction coefficient, preferably to a height just short of the upper end of the feet. In this way, an upper shoulder is formed to aid in engaging the trousers.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in FIGURE 13 wherein a coat hanger bar 116, adapted to be supported by a hook formed at the end of a stem member as in the following embodiments, is provided with upper and lower flanges 117, 118 spaced apart by a web 119 extending therebetween for rigidity. Bar 116 is preferably of molded plastic construction.

A pair of gripping assemblies 121 are disposed on opposite sides of the axis of the stem. Each of the gripping assemblies comprises a pair of adjacent downwardly depending feet 122, 123 which are respectively adapted to enter the bottom openings of a pair of trouser legs so as to engage the inside margins therearound. Means in the form of arcuate serrations 124 coated with a suitable high friction material serve to form a non-slip portion for each foot 122, 123 exposed so as to engage the trousers. Thus, serrations 124 serve to transfer the weight of the trousers to gripping assemblies 121 for arcuate movement downwardly and outwardly from one another thereby intensifying gripping engagement with the trousers.

The feet 122, 123 are carried by a web portion 126 which is formed between their upper ends. Each gripping assembly 121 further includes parallel spaced pairs of radius arms 127, 128 secured to web 126 such that arms 127 are disposed closer (than arms 128) to the axis of the supporting stem of the hanger. The spacing 129 between adjacent arms 127 and between adjacent arms 128 serves to accommodate web 119 of bar 116 therebetween. Accordingly, flange 118 includes a cut-out portion 131 whereby the upper ends of arms 127, 128 can be secured to flange 117 (as 'by embedding the ends therein) so that assembly 121 permits feet 122, 123 to move downwardly and away in an arc struck from pivot points whereby the spacing between assemblies 121 tends to increase.

Adjustable release means interconnects the two assemblies 121 whereby it and bar 116 can be gripped by one hand and moved relative toward one another. Thus, a cross-tie such as the band 132 is formed with a series of detents 133 along at least one end thereof. Each web 126 includes a notch 134 adapted to frictionally receive band 132 therein whereby detents 133 at each end of band 132 readily releasably engage notches 134.

The foregoing construction is preferaly formed from a single stamping such as shown in FIGURE 14. It will be readily apparent that feet 122, 123 are formed as 0utwardly extending wings adapted to be folded about a fold line 136, 137, respectively. Radius a-rms 127, 128 extend away from web portion 126 so that they can each be folded about the fold lines 138, 139. Notch 134 is formed in web portion 126 to extend inwardly toward the center. The outer ends of radius arms 127, 128 are preferably bent over about fold lines 141 so as to form a portion extending transversely thereto when embedded in flange 117 to enhance the anchoring of such ends.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that operation of the construction shown in FIGURE 13 is comparable to that of certain of the foregoing. Thus, a person hanging trousers with the apparatus can grip the cross-tie and hanger bar 116 in one hand and squeeze these two members relatively together to diminish the transverse spacing between gripping assemblies 121. Then, while inserting the feet of one gripping assembly into the respective openings in the trouser legs at one side, can employ his other hand to slip the other side of the trouser openings over the other gripping assembly 121. After the trousers have been so positioned, band 132 can be released so that the resilience found in radius arms 127, 123 serves to cause the feet to move downwardly and outwardly to engage the inner margin of the trouser legs. When the device is then later hung upon a clothes pole by the hook formed on the coat hanger, the weight of the trousers will be transferred by means of the nonslip portion of each foot to tend to urge the feet further downwardly and further outwardly.

As shown in FIGURE 13, it will be readily apparent that the radius arms supporting the feet of each gripping assembly 121 provide a parallelogram support for movement whereby the feet of two gripping assemblies 121 move in parallelism one to the other. As thus arranged, maximum contact of the feet with the inner margin of the trouser openings is assured.

From the foregoing, it will be readily apparent that there has been provided a significantly improved garment hanger construction whereby with one hand each of two gripping assemblies can be withdrawn for release or insertion into trouser openings; and wherein slight differences in manufacture existing between the two trouser openings will be accommodated by the adjacent feet of each gripping assembly.

I claim:

1. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a member extending laterally of the stem, at least two pairs of laterally spaced downwardly depending feet, said pairs of feet lying in closely adjacent substantially parallel planes, each of said pairs being unobstructed therearound and adapted to enter a respective one of the bottom openings of the legs of a pair of trousers, said bottom openings being of a type adapted to receive therein one of the legs of the wearer of the garment, means supporting at least one pair of said feet to move downwardly and outwardly in an arc adapted to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet of each pair thereof and to engage the inside of said trouser openings, the last named means forming a support point located above and laterally outwardly of said feet, means forming a non-slip portion of said feet exposed to be adapted to engage the inside margin of the trouser openings for transferring the weight of the trousers to urge the feet downwardly and further outwardly, and release means, including the second named member adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing said one pair of said feet relatively toward the other and substantially reversely along said are to thereby move the feet of each pair together to disengage said feet from the trouser margin within said openings.

2. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein the second named member is axially fixed to said stem member.

3. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein the second named member is axially slidable' along said stem member.

4. A garment hanger construction according to claim 3 wherein the second named member is formed and adapted to receive and support a garment wrapped therearound, and means for transferring weight supported by the second named member to urge the feet of each said pair 8 downwardly and outwardly when the hanger is supported by said hook.

5. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a member extending laterally of the stern and slidable therealong, at least two pairs of laterally spaced feet, said pairs of feet lying in closely adjacent substantially parallel planes, each of said pairs being unobstructed therearound and adapted to engage a respective one of the legs of a pair of trousers, means supporting all said feet from a point above and outwardly of the feet for movement downwardly and laterally outwardly in an are adapted to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet of each pair thereof and to increasingly develop their gripping engagement with said trouser legs, the second member being formed and adapted to engage and support a garment hung therefrom, friction means for transferring weight supported by the second named member to urge the feet of each pair downwardly and outwardly when the hanger is supported by said hook, and release means, including the second named member adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing said feet relatively toward said hook substantially reversely along said are to thereby move the feet of each pair together to disengage said feet from the trouser margin within said openings.

6. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein the adjacent ones of said feet are formed to define an elongated rectangle folded about a line parallel to and in the plane of the shorter sides of the rectangle, and an unobstructed trouser receiving zone defined between the longer sides of the rectangle, the material defining the folded rectangle being yieldingly and permanently deformable to selectively establish the angle of the fold in the longer sides so as to vary the spacing between the feet of each pair.

7. A garment hanger construction according to claim 1 wherein the first said means includes radius arms supporting the feet of each pair, said arms having a center of arcuate movement disposed and adapted to lie above and outwardly of the feet of each pair.

8. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, at least two pairs of downwardly depending feet, the feet of each pair being spaced laterally to opposite sides of the axis of said stem, said pairs of feet lying in closely adjacent substantially parallel planes, each of said pairs being adapted to enter a respective one of the bottom openings of the legs of a pair of trousers, radius arms supporting all said feet to move downwardly and outwardly in arcs having centers of arcuate movement above and outwardly of the pairs of feet and adapted to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet of each pair and to engage the inside of said trouser openings, a first member extending laterally of the stem and supporting said arms, means forming an engagement surface on those portionsof said feet adapted to engage the inside margin of the trouser openings, whereby the weight of the trousers is adapted to be transmitted to urge the feet downwardly and further outwardly, and release means including a second member extending laterally of the stem and movable between advanced and retracted positions with respect to said first member and adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing said feet relatively toward said hook substantially reversely along said arc to thereby move the feet of each pair together to disengage said feet from the trouser margin within said openings.

9. A garment hanger construction according to claim 8 further including a spacing member extending between an end of said cross-tie ad a cooperating notch formed in said spacing member to provide a readily releasable coupling therebetween.

11. Garment hanger apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the adjacent feet on a common side of said axis of the stem are resiliently movable with respect to each other toward and away from said axis to accommodate openings in the trousers.

12. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a member extending laterally of the axis of the stem member, two gripping assemblies disposed on opposite sides of said axis, each of said gripping assemblies comprising a pair of adjacent downwardly depending feet repectively adapted to enter the bottom openings of a pair of trouser legs to engage the inside margin therearound, means defining a web extending between the upper ends of the feet, first and second substantially parallel resilient radius arms secured to the web, one of said arms being disposed closer to said axis than the other, the other ends of said arms being secured to the second named member to permit said feet to move downwardly and away from said axis in an arc, means associated with each foot forming a non-slip portion exposed to be adapted to engage the inner margin around each of said bottom openings for transferring the weight of the trousers to said arms to urge the feet downwardly and further outwardly, and release means extending from each of said gripping assemblies adapted to be gripped to draw at least one of said assemblies toward said hook reversely along said are to diminish the spacing between said gripping assemblies thereby disengaging said feet from the trouser margin.

13. A garment construction according to claim 12 wherein the second named member forms a coat hanger bar.

14'. A garment construction according to claim 12 wherein said release means comprises a notch formed in the outer edge of said web and a cross-tie formed with a series of detents therealong at one end to be readily releasably engaged by said notch.

15. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hood adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a member extending laterally of the stem, a pair of laterally spaced downwardly depending feet, each foot of said pair being adapted to enter the open end of a garment to be supported from the clothes pole, means supporting at least one of said feet to move downwardly and outwardly in an arc struck from a point above and outwardly of said one of said feet to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet and adapted to engage the inside of said garment opening, means forming a non-slip portion of said feet exposed to be adapted to engage the inside margin of the garment opening for transferring the weight of the garment to urge the feet downwardly and further outwardly, and release means including the second named member adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing said one of said feet relatively toward said hook substantially reversely along said are to thereby move the feet of said pair together to disengage said feet from the margin within said garment opening.

16. A garment hanger construction comprising a stern member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a member extending laterally of the stem and slidable therealong, a pair of laterally spaced feet, each foot of said pair being adapted to engage the inner margin of an end opening of a garment to be supported, means supporting at least one of said feet to move downwardly and laterally outwardly in an arc struck from a point above and outwardly of said one of said feet to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet and adapted thereby to increasingly develop their gripping engagement with said garment, the second named member being forced and adapted to receive and support the weight of a garment hung therefrom, means for transferring the weight supported by the second named member to urge both feet downwardly and outwardly when the hanger is supported by said hook, and release means including the second named member adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing said one of said feet relatively toward said hook substantially reversely along said arc to thereby move both feet together to disengage said feet from the margin within said garment opening.

17. A garment hanger construction comprising a stem member terminating in a hook adapted to be supported about a horizontal clothes pole, a pair of downwardly depending feet, each foot of said pair being adapted to enter an end opening of a garment, such end opening being of a type to receive a portion of the body of the wearer, radius arms supporting both said feet to move downwardly and outwardly in arcs having centers of arcuate movement defined above and outwardly of the pair of feet and serving to enlarge the lateral spacing between the feet of said pair and to engage the inside of said garment opening, a first member extending laterally of the stem and supporting said arms, means forming an engagement surface on those portions of said feet adapted to engage the inside margin of the garment opening whereby the weight of the garment is adapted to be transmitted to urge the feet downwardly and further outwardly, and release means including a second member extending laterally of the stem and movable between advanced and retracted positions with respect to said first member and adapted to be gripped in one hand for drawing at least one of said feet relatively toward said hook substantially reversely along said are to thereby move the feet together to disengage said feet from the margin within said garment opening.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 702,619 6/ 1902 Black 223 XR 2,259,692 10/ 1941 Hegedus 223- 2,420,885 5/ 1947 Kjeldsen 223-88 2,488,072 11/ 1949 Stewart 223-95 2,977,032 3/ 1961 Metzner 223--95 3,330,453 7/ 1967 Borkowski 223-95 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner G. H. KRIZMANICH, Assistant Examiner 

